Dunnellon church renovating 120-year-old building

Engineer Robert Brady looks over structural improvements as the renovation of Dunnellon Presbyterian Church in Dunnellon, FL continues on Monday July 1, 2013. The original building was built in 1895 with an addition in 1993. The grand re-opening will be in September.

Alan Youngblood/Star-Banner

By Charles LawrenceCorrespondent

Published: Saturday, July 13, 2013 at 8:26 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, July 13, 2013 at 8:26 p.m.

The Dunnellon Presbyterian Church, built during the area's phosphate boom of the 1890s, is undergoing renovations to extend the life of the 120-year-old venue.

Engineer Robert Brady looks over structural improvements as the renovation of Dunnellon Presbyterian Church in Dunnellon, FL continues on Monday July 1, 2013. The original building was built in 1895 with an addition in 1993. The grand re-opening will be in September.

Alan Youngblood/Star-Banner

Crews are working on the original 1893 structure as well as an addition added in 1993.

The Rev. Jeff Welch presides over the congregation of about 300 people at the church, and has done so for the last 15 years.

"We're doing it because the 1893 building was becoming in disrepair; there were actually unsafe areas of the building. Instead of tearing it down or moving the building, we decided to make the repairs instead," Welch said.

"We mainly had rot and termite damage, and it affected the bell tower. The bell tower is integral to the structure of the entire building," Welch added.

The goal is to add at least 40 to 50 more years of life to the building. The cost for the work is estimated at $400,000. Church members have been raising the money through their own gifts, quilt raffles and support from community groups.

The renovations began last October when rot in the bell tower support beams was discovered.

Bob Brady, a church member and consulting engineer, is assisting with the rehabilitation work. He discovered that the bell tower need to be shored up so members could meet in the sanctuary safely.

"The original bell tower itself had to be demolished, and we replaced it with materials that will be there for a while," Brady said.

The new bell tower was built with structural steel to meet new hurricane standards. Local craftsmen were hired to do some of the specialized work.

"We were amazed at the quality of the original construction, and the materials probably came from not far away," Welch said. "Back then, Dunnellon was a boom town where there were more bars than churches."

Welch also said that one of the major challenges in the project was using materials that replicate the 1890s materials.

"One thing we were happy we could do was return to the original roofing material. We're trying to go back to the original historical look of the church, and I hope we've done a good job of that," he said.

"With a little more sunshine, we might get the roof finished up this week," Brady said last week.

Welch said the church had eight charter members when it started in 1893 and that they were a unique congregation.

"Back then, we were the first to have a sanctuary that invited other denominations to worship in our church," Welch said.

The church will re-dedicated on Sunday, Sept. 29, and all are welcome for the celebration.

<p>The Dunnellon Presbyterian Church, built during the area's phosphate boom of the 1890s, is undergoing renovations to extend the life of the 120-year-old venue.</p><p>Crews are working on the original 1893 structure as well as an addition added in 1993.</p><p>The Rev. Jeff Welch presides over the congregation of about 300 people at the church, and has done so for the last 15 years.</p><p>"We're doing it because the 1893 building was becoming in disrepair; there were actually unsafe areas of the building. Instead of tearing it down or moving the building, we decided to make the repairs instead," Welch said.</p><p>"We mainly had rot and termite damage, and it affected the bell tower. The bell tower is integral to the structure of the entire building," Welch added.</p><p>The goal is to add at least 40 to 50 more years of life to the building. The cost for the work is estimated at $400,000. Church members have been raising the money through their own gifts, quilt raffles and support from community groups.</p><p>The renovations began last October when rot in the bell tower support beams was discovered.</p><p>Bob Brady, a church member and consulting engineer, is assisting with the rehabilitation work. He discovered that the bell tower need to be shored up so members could meet in the sanctuary safely.</p><p>"The original bell tower itself had to be demolished, and we replaced it with materials that will be there for a while," Brady said.</p><p>The new bell tower was built with structural steel to meet new hurricane standards. Local craftsmen were hired to do some of the specialized work.</p><p>"We were amazed at the quality of the original construction, and the materials probably came from not far away," Welch said. "Back then, Dunnellon was a boom town where there were more bars than churches."</p><p>Welch also said that one of the major challenges in the project was using materials that replicate the 1890s materials.</p><p>"One thing we were happy we could do was return to the original roofing material. We're trying to go back to the original historical look of the church, and I hope we've done a good job of that," he said.</p><p>"With a little more sunshine, we might get the roof finished up this week," Brady said last week.</p><p>Welch said the church had eight charter members when it started in 1893 and that they were a unique congregation.</p><p>"Back then, we were the first to have a sanctuary that invited other denominations to worship in our church," Welch said.</p><p>The church will re-dedicated on Sunday, Sept. 29, and all are welcome for the celebration.</p>